House To Review Process Serving Navarro`s Use Of Program Examined

February 27, 1992|By ROBERT McCLURE and ANDREW MARTIN, Staff Writers

TALLAHASSEE -- A House of Representatives panel has launched an investigation into allegations that Broward Sheriff Nick Navarro is using a court process server program to reward his political allies -- a possible violation of state law.

Rep. John Cosgrove, D-Miami, vowed on Wednesday to make Navarro explain why he is ignoring a state law passed largely to end abuses in Navarro`s process- servers program.

Process serving is the lucrative business of delivering court papers such as subpoenas and eviction notices.

``Allegations of non-compliance -- if not abuse -- were brought to my attention,`` said Cosgrove, chairman of a House subcommittee on court systems. ``We didn`t want for there to be the appearance that there is a political feifdom.``

Navarro was out of town and could not be reached.

Spokesman Maj. Ralph Page said, ``We have one of the most stringent and professional requirements for process servers in the state. We will answer every question. No problem at all.``

Records on Navarro`s process servers` program were subpoenaed in June by the U.S. Attorney`s Office, including records on process server and longtime Navarro supporter Ramon Sais Sr. Federal prosecutors are conducting a wide- ranging corruption investigation of the Sheriff`s Office.

Cosgrove`s inquiry is seeking answers to the following allegations:

-- Navarro illegally limits the number of process servers allowed to practice in Broward to 100. This creates a monopoly, increasing costs and slowing down the courts` work. State law was changed last year to forbid this practice, but Navarro has apparently ignored it, Cosgrove said.

-- The positions, which can earn a process server thousands of dollars a week, are doled out to Navarro`s political supporters.

-- Navarro fails to test applicants for the positions as required by state law.

Cosgrove`s investigation was hailed by critics of Navarro`s program.

John McNamara, of Hollywood Subpoena, said the Sheriff`s Office has repeatedly rejected his application to become a process server.

``When someone calls me and says, `I`d like to have a process served,` I have to tell him to call my competitor,`` said McNamara, who has tried unsuccesfully to stop Navarro`s program in federal court. ``Naturally, your business goes down the tubes.``

In Dade and Palm Beach counties, the chief judge of the circuit court administers process servers. In Broward, court officials allow Navarro to register the servers.

The result of the process-server monopoly in Broward is higher prices for people involved in lawsuits, said Chuck Taylor, vice president of the Florida Association of Certified Process Servers.

Getting a paper served in Dade County costs about $10 or $12, while it costs $17 or $18 in Broward and in some cases, up to $35, he said.